Hospitalizations, coronavirus patients in ICU at lowest numbers since late June
Jeff Pack
Staff Writer
Riverside University Health System reported 696 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and 26 new deaths throughout the county. In all, 44,679 have tested positive for the virus and 853 people have died since the county began recording data back in early March.
In all, four people died from southwest Riverside County cities and communities overnight, one each from Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, and San Jacinto.
In a note posted on the county’s coronavirus data website, the county explained “the figures displayed for ‘Confirmed’ COVID-19 cases, case rates, positivity rates, doubling time, and number of tests do not accurately reflect the current situation.”
However, deaths, hospitalizations, and the number of people in ICU units are accurate and current.
The county reported 434 people have recovered from the virus overnight, while there 28 fewer people hospitalized — a total of 307. There are 94 people being treated in ICUs for the virus, a dozen fewer than the day before.
Those totals represent the lowest numbers in the hospital and in ICU since June 22.
The county reported that there were 327 confirmed cases in county jails and another 1,476 cases recorded in state prisons within the county. Both are minimal increases.
The county reported that 434,405 have been tested so far, 13,132 more than the day before.
Locally, Temecula added 13 new cases (789), Murrieta added 19 (888), Wildomar added eight (418), Lake Elsinore added 27 (935), Canyon Lake added two (70), Menifee added 21 (1,059), Hemet added 19 (1,262), and San Jacinto added 18 (859).
In local communities, Anza added no new cases (11), East Hemet added seven (244), French Valley added two (235), Lakeland Village added four (174), Valle Vista added four (170), and Winchester added two (14).
So far, six people have died from Temecula, 19 from Murrieta, 10 from Wildomar, 16 from Lake Elsinore, 16 from Menifee, 37 from Hemet, 15 from San Jacinto, three from East Hemet, one each from French Valley, Lakeland Village, and Valle Vista, and none from Canyon Lake, Anza, or Winchester.
The number of known active virus cases countywide is 20,513, an increase of 236 from Wednesday. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total — 44,679 — according to the county Executive Office.
The doubling time — or the number of days in which documented virus cases increase 100% — is 35 days. A doubling rate of seven days is considered severe.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Jeff Pack can be reached by email at jpack@reedermedia.com.
